Decided by FIFA Executive Commitee at Zürich, 19th May 1984. Italy was voted in over the USSR 11-5. England In favour of Italy and Greece (did not fulfil the stadia criteria) withdrew.

Entries deadline 30th September 1987.

Qualifications draw 12 December 1987 in Zürich.

116 teams entered including host Italy and the holders Argentina. 3 national teams participated for the first time Gabon, Oman and Pakistan. 103 actually played a total of 314 preliminary matches (735 goals). Lesotho, Rwanda, Togo, Bahrain, India, Maldives, and South Yemen (PDR) withdrew. Libya withdrew in the second qualifying stage in Africa. Mexico were suspended for falsifying the age of players. The entries of Belize, Mauritius and Mozambique were not accepted.

Mexico incurred a two year ban (30 June 1988), for forging players' birth certificates in a FIFA youth competition

Chile banned from 1994 World Cup during the 1990 qualifiers. WC '90 see article on relevant page.

Seeding was based on the teams 2 previous WC performances. The rank gained in Mexico 1986 counting double.

Format: 24 teams. The top two in each of the six groups go through to the second round, and are joined by the four most successful third-place finishers to bring the number for the knock out stage of the competition to 16. The third place qualifiers were decided; first on points; second on goal difference; third on goals; fourth on the head to head and finally on the drawing of lots.

Goals: Skuhravý put in the clear by Moravčík easily beat Meola; Hašek was brought down by Windishcmann and Bilek rifled home the penalty into the top corner; Hašek headed in a near post corner from Chovanec; After a quick exchange of passes Murray put a through ball to Cagliuri, who rounds Stejskal to get one back for the USA, their first finals goal since 1950; Skuhravý puts another near post header again from a Chahovec corner, past Meola; Luhový forced home an opening created by Skuhravý with the last kick of the game.

Goals: Donadoni's corner was mis-hit by Giannini, but the ball fell conveniently for Schillaci to head into the roof of the net from six yards; From their own half Baggio (at £7.7million the most expensive player in football) exchanged passes with Giannini, survived a tackle, sidestepped Kadlec and clipped the ball past Stejskal, who went the wrong way. One of the best goals of the tournament; On 64 Griga had a headed goal wrongly disallowed for offside.

Goals: Ogris ran unchecked half the length of the pitch and beat Meola with a deft right foot chip into the far corner; A great run down the right by Streiter who laid on a volley for Rodax to slam home; Vermes played inside to Ramos who centred for Murray to stab it in.

Goal: N'Dip took a free-kick on the left and when Makanaky and Lorenzo went for it together, the ball spun into the air finding Omam Biyick unmarked seven yards out. His cross-goal downward header was firm but should not have troubled Pumpido, however the goalkeeper 'visibly' creaked as he went down for the stop, allowing the ball to go in under his hands.NOTE: Match preceded by WC opening ceremony.

Note: Pumpido stretchered off with fractured right tibia and fibula after a collision with Olarticoechea in the tenth minute. It was not all unlucky for Argentina, Maradona clearly (to all but the ref) handled a goal-bound Kuznetsov header off the line and Troglio got away with the same offence in the build-up to Burruchaga's goal. The normally mild mannered Valerǐ Lobanovskǐ (the stoic Soviet coach, given to upbraiding journalists for not wearing ties at his press conferences) blew his top "It was obviously handball", he said "the referee didn't see it, or didn't penalise it, and any referee who fails to punish a foul of such importance should not be used at this level". (Lobanovskǐ, who died in 2004, would have been pleased, Fredriksson didn't). The Soviets yet again in a WC finals fall victim to shoddy decisions on the pitch, ....but then it was the 13th game of the tournament on the 13th day of the month.

Müller controlled the ball from a flicked Mozer header, above his own shoulder with his right foot, into a goalbound downward volley, the Costa Rican defender Montero could not get his body out of the way and deflected the shot past Conejo.

Goals: After not clearing a corner, Valderama lobbed a ball down the right for Alvarez, who beat the off-side trap to centre for Redin to score with an easy header. Estrada played a long ball to Valderama on the left, who cut inside and smashed a low shot past Mussabah.

The two red cards need some clarification. Frank Rijkaard brought down Voller with a bad tackle and was booked, they then carried on arguing, after the Dutchman spat on the back of the German's head, more remonstrations and Völler, still protesting innocence to the referee (he had a point) is booked. A very short time later Völler just pulled away from the incoming Van Breukelen, who gathers the ball in a heap. Rijkaard has a go at Völler on the floor (has another gob) and they are still at it when Loustau has had enough and shows them both the red card. Just for good measure Rijkaard disgracefully spits again at the back of Völler as they scowl off the pitch. I blame the parents.

Sent off: Moravčík (69 dissent 2YC - he was so convinced he wes fouled by Littbarski in the German penalty area, that he turmed, and kicked out a leg to demonstrate the fact to the ref. Unfortunately his left boot flew off, greatly exaggerating the incident and he was shown a red card. He walked off with his boot in his hand).Booked: Klinsmann (27 f) / Moravčík (11 not retreating), Bilek (14 f), Straka (37 f), Moravčík (69), Knoflicek (87 f).

70 - An uncharacteristic mistake from Shilton, failing to pick up a Wright backpass allowed Baggio to sneak in, take the ball off the goalkeeper, and then work a lovely move with Schillaci to score (but surely it was offside?) 80 - Dorigo sent in a great cross from the left as Platt outjumped Baresi to power a header into the top corner. 85 - Another dodgy decision by the referee for the penalty. Schillaci slid into Parker, but the penalty was awarded and Schillaci stepped up to convert the winner and become the tournament's top scorer. 89 - Berti scores with a header and the ref gets it wrong again by disallowing a fair goal.

Serrizuela fouls Völler, free kick is flicked on by Klinsmann, Völler fails to get a proper touch as effort goes wide.

5'

Dezotti booked for dissent

7'

Völler heads wide from Klinsmann's right wing cross.

11'

Littbarski shoots over the bar following a good move by Hässler and Völler.

18'

Matthäus dispossesses Burruchaga in midfield and puts Völler clear but Simón holds him off sufficiently for Serrizuela to tackle him.

23'

Matthäus' curling cross from the right headed wide by Völler.

33'

Casual pass by Burruchaga allows Matthäus in but his right wing cross is too deep for Völler.

35'

The first corner of the match from which Brehme has a shot blocked by Dezotti on the six yard box.

37'

Buchwald is penalised on the edge of his own area. Maradona curls the free-kick over the bar.

39'

Simón fouls Hässler. Brehme's free-kick blocked by a defender.

45'

Kohler inadvertently lobs a high ball back to which Illgner has to keep a close eye on.

46'

Littbarski brilliantly weaves his way past three defenders before shooting just wide of the right post from the edge of the penalty area.

48'

Berthold heads over the bar at the far post from Brehme's curling free-kick.

50'

Völler slides in at the far post but puts Brehme's curling free-kick wide.

52'

Völler and Buchwald 'mug' Maradona, Völler booked.

55'

Littbarski swerves a shot from 12 yards over the bar.

57'

Augenthaler presented with a golden chance at far post by Matthäus pass from the right but Goycocheas' legs stops him and Argentina scramble the ball away.

60'

Goycochea gets to the left post to put around Brehme's low shot.

61'

Hässler sets up Klinsmann but he shoots over the bar.

64'

After a knee-high hack on Klinsmann, Monzon, who only came on at h/t is sent off.

66'

Berthold shoots wide of left post as Brehme free-kick not fully cleard.

83'

Calderón appears to have his leg hooked away on the corner of the German penalty area but play continued to the other end. Sensini is converging with Völler onto a Matthäus through ball. Sensini is adjudged to have brought down Völler for a penalty.

IRL: John 'Jack' Charlton (ENG).
[22] Gerard Joseph Peyton (GK), [14] Christopher William Gerard Hughton (FB), [15] Bernard Joseph Slaven (MF), [19] David Thomas Kelly {FW), [18] Francis Anthony Stapleton (FW), [20] John Frederick Byrne (FW).Unlucky: Alan McLoughlin, who played against England and Egypt, was a late replacement for Gary Patrick Waddock (MF - Millwall), sent home before the world cup by manager Jack Charlton. This World cup came four years too late for Stapleton and William Liam Brady. On average the oldest squad Age 28y 9m.Kit: Adidas

SCO: Andrew 'Andy' Roxburgh.
[12] Andrew Lewis Goram (GK), [22] Brynn James Gunn (GK), [18] John Angus Paul Collins (MF), [20] Gary McAllister (MF). Note: [21] Robert William Fleck was a last minute replacement for the unfortunate David Cooper (LWF), who had tendonitis and never played again for Scotland.Unlucky: Stephen 'Steve' Nicol (CDF) was English Football Writers' Player of the Year 1989, but he was injured, Murdo Davidson MacLeod (MF - Borussia Dortmund) also injured. Brian John McClair (FWD - Manchester United) and John Robertson (FWD - Livingston) failed to make the short-list, although Mo Johnson and Ally McCoist, who were in the squad were hiding injuries. Willie Miller (CD) was considered too old, Robert "Roy" Sime Aitken (DF) the same. Alan David Hansen (CH) was ignored again, but it was also too late for this stylish player.Kit: Umbro

YUG: Ivica Osim.
[12] Fahrudin Omerović (GK), [22] Dragoje Leković (GK), [21] Andrej Panadić (DF),[14] Alen Bokšić (FW), [20] Davor Šuker (FW).Unlucky: Zvonimir Boban (MF) In a game against Red Star Belgrade on 13 May 1990, he attacked a policeman who was assaulting a Dinamo supporter after a riot had broken out in the stadium (later seen as a step in Croatian discontent with the Yugoslav regime). He was suspended from the Yugoslav national team, thus missing the 1990 World Cup in Italy.Kit: Adidas.

* Graham Taylor was appointed manager after Robson and was to be the last to hold te title. In 1993 Jimmy Armfield was appointed as a consultant to the FA and one of his first suggestions was to change the job title from manager to coach, he endorsd Terry Venables to tke up the post in Jan 1994.

Prize money

The amount of expenditure given to each team that qualified fot the 1982 WC by FIFA was approx:

£277,622 (CHF677,127 Swiss francs) – To each of the 24 teams.

+ £102,500 (CHF 0.25m) for each association taking part as contribution towards team preparation.

Conversion rate 1CHF = £0.41 or £1 = CHF2.47 in June 1982.

£270,000 (CHF1 millon) – To each of the 24 teams.

YOUNGEST AND OLDEST

1990

Youngest

Oldest

Player

González (CRC)

19y 307d

Shilton (ENG)

40y 292d

Goalkeeper

Meola (USA)

21y 316d

Shilton (ENG)

40y 292d

Scorer

González (CRC)

19y 319d

Milla (CMR)

38y 34d

Champion

Möller (GER)

22y 309d

Augenthaler (GER)

32y 285d

Finalist

Möller (GER)

22y 309d

Augenthaler (GER)

32y 285d

Captain

Meola (USA)

21y 316d

Shilton (ENG)

40y 292d

Coach

Lazaroni (BRZ)

39y 272d

Thys (BEL)

67y 207d

Referee

Mikkelsen (DAN)

30y 40d

Courtney (ENG)

49y 21d

Quote by the Egyptian manager El Gohary after their bruising group draw.